Authors: Hilary Storm
I see Taron and Luke hanging out near the middle stage.
“Hey guys! Have you seen Talon?” We both hug Luke when we walk up.
“He is here somewhere bossing someone around.” Taron says waving his hand toward the stage. “What? No love for me? Or did my brother get it all this afternoon? I heard you were great on the cymbals.”
Ok I am going to handle this better than I have in the past. I decide to just smile and
give in and hug him also. I am still mortified inside, but I am working really hard to disguise it. Why are Ivy and Taron always listening to us? Seriously? I notice Ivy grinning as she settles into Taron for a hug.
“He is focused today, Cuz. You probably should hang with us until he gets everything perfect for his part of the show.”
“When does ‘Rebel Walking’ take the stage?” I ask trying to get some sense of timing for everything.
“We are the second band on this stage. Talon has a du
el right before we go on.” Luke gives more information than anyone else has so far.
“A du
el? What is that?”
“He challenged two other drummers to take him on in a ‘Drum-Off’. He is pumped up about this. He organized it with the light techs and the other drummers most of this week. I guess they will each be on a different stage and each drummer
will get a time to show off. Then they will rotate back around multiple times until each one plays an equal amount of time. Someone will judge the winner by the volume of the uproar in the audience.” Luke finishes as I see Talon working behind the stage. He is assembling his drum set.
“Hey, do you need any help?”
“Nah. Whoa, wait maybe I do!” He says as he looks me up and down with obvious appreciation.
“What?” I smile knowing he likes what he sees.
“Can you hold the back of the bass drum for me? Hold it with both hands.”
“Sure.” I put my hands behind the drum while he starts to adjust something on the other side.
“No lower. Looower. Looooower. Ok right there.” He is taking forever. Why am I holding the backside of this drum? I look up and see that he is just sitting there looking in my shirt.
“Really? What is wrong with you?”
“You can’t blame a guy can you? Shit, Ev! You are fucking gorgeous!” He locks me into a tight hug that presses everything we have into each other.
“Are you ready for tonight?”
“I am now!” He says as he pushes himself deeper into my body. I smack him in the arm.
“Talon!”
“I mean, I am now that you are here to watch me!”
“Riiiight.” I lea
n up to kiss him. Even in my heels he is taller than me.
“No I am stoked. Tonight should be THE night for Rebel Walking to shine.”
“I will be watching.”
“I want you with me until I have to take stage.”
The concert begins. Each band from both ends of the field plays before the middle stage. We stand on the field and watch each perform. I love moments like this with him. He is standing behind me as close as possible like he always does. Luke and Lilly are standing with us. I’m not sure where Ivy took off to. After ‘Beckoning Reality’ finishes their concert on the middle stage Talon disappears to get his stage ready.
I see Ivy walking toward me. “Where have you been?” I am curious.
“Showing my groupie love!”
“Anyone I know?” I ask
, but she doesn’t answer. She only gives me a wink and changes the subject quickly.
That’s fine for now. I will just drill her about it later.
The announcer finally announces that there will be a special performance to come after a short break. I get in position to take pictures. All the main lights go out with the exception of the color changing spotlight bringing everyone’s attention to the stage on the right.
“Let’s hear it for Grady Williams!” The announcer drags out his name and yells over the crowd as it goes wild. Grady is pretty good actually. He definitely has rhythm and I find myself moving just a bit as he kills it. The lights go out again.
“People, lets show some love for Derek Vaughn!” The announcer shouts over the fans. Ivy puts her fingers in her mouth and whistles loudly.
“Derek is freaking hot! Damn!” Ivy notices these things.
He is talented too. I enjoy this guy also.
“Ladies! Bring your focus to the middle stage for Talon Walker!” He drags out Talon’s name longer than he did the othe
r drummers. The lights hit him and my mouth falls open. He is standing behind his set and grabs the back of his shirt from over his head and pulls it off throwing it out into the crowd. The girls go insane. He sits down and shows off his skills causing all of us girls to drool. Lights go off again.
Grady begins again. This time he has a guitarist join in and they rock out together for maybe a minute before the lights go out.
Derek starts up and the crowd is still loud from Grady’s performance. His guitarist is female. Her whole presence screams sexy as she works the entire stage playing. Again I find myself moving to the music. Lights out again.
Luke starts to rumble on guitar and then I hear Talon start in again. I finally remember to take pictures. I can’t help but notice how the audience is growing larger around Talon and Luke’s stage. All too soon lights off.
This time Grady is engulfed in fog. The different colored lights hit the fog and his silhouette is beating the hell out of those drums. He is leaving it all on that stage.
Derek’s time starts with fire shooting up on each side of the stage. He has a certain swagger about him when he plays. I can tell he is one of those guys that
can get the girls left and right. The lights go out again right before fire shoots up one last round.
This time the lights do not shine on Talon. My eyes are searching for him. He hits a drum out toward the front of the stage and a blue light shines up through it. Then re
d right next to it followed by green then orange. The lights only appear when he hits the drums. He focuses only on the blue and red at first and I notice liquid splashing high off of the drum as he strikes it.
Then he moves to the green and orange, again
, liquid flying higher than his head. He unleashes his fury on all of the drums. He is surrounded by a colorful display of splashes on all sides. I am mesmerized by the wildness of the liquid colors during the entire time he plays. The spotlight shines on him for a few seconds before his time ends. He is a dripping mess of wetness and I know I’m not the only one who wants to lick him clean. His hair is drenched. Lights out. There is no doubt that he stole this challenge. The audience is roaring. I am just not sure how great my pictures are going to be since it is hard to take pics with your mouth openly drooling for the subject.
It only takes a few minutes after the crowd quiets for Talon’s band to start playing. All of the songs they are playing tonight are originals. The lights and effects are so much better than any other band here tonight.
They have added pyro technics and fog throughout different songs. The crowd is going crazy causing everyone in the group to step up and enjoy the spotlight and add just a bit more than I have seen in the past. It is apparent that they are on a different level than the rest of the bands here tonight.
I
try to make up for missing so many pictures before and shoot more than enough. I notice Ivy is doing the same.
After the concert is over the crowd surrounds each one of the members. I notice Talon is more receptive of fan attention tonight than h
e normally is. I am so ecstatic for them.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Talon
This is
insane. Victor Nickel from Wright Records approached us at the end of our concert. He has asked us to open for some of the big concerts coming up. We could not say no. It is a great opportunity, and who knows where life will take us in the next few months. We will leave out after finals in early December. The first tour will last a couple of weeks.
“Fuckin A! This kicks ass! We have to celebrate!” Taron is yelling at me from across the field. He is as happy as I am about the news.
“Let’s do it!”
I find Eaven and we make our way to the party bus. Once we are in the parking lot and there isn’t a crowd around, I start playing a little grab ass.
My focus is entirely on Eaven and trying to see inside her shirt when I hear someone say “You were awesome tonight, Talon”.
I know in my head who said it, which pisses me off even more.
“What the fuck do you want Nicole?” I can’t see her right away. I finally spot her in the shadows of the bus.
“I just want to let you know how proud I am of you. You kicked ass tonight and I want to congratulate you.”
“Great. Now Leave.” I say as I guide Eaven into the bus and close the door behind me.
“Is that all that you are going to say to her?” Eaven has her hands on her hips like she is pissed at me. Really?
“Yes. I told her to leave me alone. She doesn’t get the hint.”
“You are over-
reacting. You had a great night and she just wants to be happy for you.”
“Don’t
defend her. I don’t give a shit what she wants from me. I am done. Do not feel sorry for her.”
“I don’t. You are just so harsh to
her.”
“Yes I am. Don’t be mad at me. I want to celebrate tonight. She will not prevent that from happening.”
“I’m not mad. I just feel bad for her.”
“Don’t. She doesn’t deserve your pity.” I say just as everyone finally opens the door to head home.”
“Who is ready to see some dick?” Taron announces to the entire bus.
“Keep it in your pants brother. No one wants to see your shit.” I quickly say hoping to diffuse his intentions.
“Sure they do.” I notice him wink at Ivy.
The drive is short since everyone is coming to our house to celebrate and we don’t make any extra stops. As soon as we hit the door, Taron is pouring drinks.
“Everyone grab a shot. We need to toast.” Taron yells through the house.
I begin to think of the words of wisdom that I will say in case I have to do the honors. You know, here is to our future and crap like that. Taron interrupts my thoughts.
“Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe. May these shots reveal the Hoe.” Taron immediately clanks the glasses and tips the tequila into his mouth. We all reluctantly tip our shots and look around at the girls. When they begin to lift their shots, we follow suit. Ivy grabs the bottle and pours another round.
“
Here is to the men we’ve had. Some were good, some were bad. Some will run, some will follow. But it is up to us if we spit or swallow.” Ivy proudly knocks shot glasses with the ladies. Taron pulls the bottle from Ivy’s hand to pour yet another round.
“To all the kisses I’ve snatched.” Taron says smiling with a very wicked grin. “And vice versa!” He adds right before we all tip the glass into our mouths.
“Here is to love and unity, dark corners and opportunity.” Well ok, I will drink to that. Taron grabs the bottle and pours another round.
“May the girls with the Itty Bitty’s,
Let you pet their pretty Kittie’s.” How do I lift my glass to that with my girlfriend right next to me? She does not have Itty Bitty’s. I watch as she laughs and tips up the glass. So we drink to petting Kittie’s and Miny Moe’s snatch when my brother is leading the shots. We have drank to worse in the past.
“Ok we are all going to die of alcohol poisoning. That is enough for a while.” Eaven grabs the bottle to stop the progress of our regress.
I am glad someone is thinking.
“Hot tub time!” Taron starts stripping down.
“I don’t have a suit.” Eaven looks at me in a panic.
“That’s ok. I have t-shirts that you guys can borrow if you want.” I offer both Eaven and Ivy.
“Nah! I will just wear what I have on underneath!” Ivy waves her hands in the air and then begins to pull the hem of her dress up. Eaven quickly stops Ivy from revealing herself and begins whispering in her ear. After Eaven twists and pinches Ivy’s arm, they both retreat to my room to find something. Lilly and Macy go in with them. I grab my swim trunks before they close me out of my own bedroom.
“You had better be wearing something under that water.” I say
, knowing I have about a fifty-fifty chance that Taron is naked under there.
“Oh lighten up. I have a suit on.” Taron assures me and the rest of the guys standing around. I settle in on the opposite side of my twin. The hot tub is very large and we can easily get more than eigh
t
people in it, especially if people lap up. It is dark outside, but the light from the deck is shining on us. We don’t ever turn on the light inside the hot tub. That is a mistake I will never make again.
Luke and a few of the other guys get in also. Holden hands everyone a beer and we start talking about our kick ass performance tonight. We are all eager to step it up and open for some bands on tour. We continue our conversation through three beers and I start to wonder where the girls are.